The Pride in Place Programme (PiPP) Board (Peterlee East) meeting was scheduled to discuss the progress of the programme, including community engagement, the submission of the Neighbourhood Board and Boundary, and future communications strategies. The board was also set to review updates on the Quick Wins funding scheme and consider future salary charges for operational delivery.

Programme Update and Community Engagement

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the progress of the Pride in Place Programme (PiPP) in Peterlee East. The report pack indicated that community engagement activities had been progressing well, with a substantial number of participants providing feedback both online and in person. The engagement had identified key priorities for residents, including the decline of town and village centres, crime and anti-social behaviour, and a lack of opportunities for young people. Residents also expressed concerns about transport, accessibility, health and wellbeing, environmental quality, employment, housing, and community cohesion.

The report highlighted that residents also expressed pride in the area's strengths, such as its community spirit, natural environment, coastline, heritage, and leisure facilities. The feedback from engagement activities, including the Let's Talk questionnaire and the Easington Constituency Survey, was consistent with previous consultations like the Strategic Place Plan.

The board was scheduled to be updated on the Quick Wins Funding Application Scheme, which had seen applications being received and assessed. Several projects had already been approved, including funding for Easington Colliery Primary School's storage container for ParkPlay, CRT Game on Active Youth Dance Sessions, the Easington Colliery ParkPlay Belonging Project Equipment, and running costs for the DAMHA Social Suppers project. Seven other applications were under assessment.

Neighbourhood Board and Boundary Submission

The meeting was scheduled to include an update on the Neighbourhood Board and Boundary Submission, which had been submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 9 July. The report indicated that Durham County Council's community engagement approach had been praised by MHCLG as an example of national best practice. The governance and boundary submission for Peterlee East had been assessed and approved, meeting most of the requirements set out in the Pride in Place Programme guidance. This approval was anticipated to enable the release of the Grant Determination Letter and subsequent revenue funding. A condition of the approval was that all governance documentation, including the Conflict of Interests Register, Terms of Reference, Code of Conduct, and Board meeting minutes, must be published on an accessible website by 30 November 2026.

Communications and Marketing

Discussions were scheduled regarding communications and marketing arrangements for the Pride in Place programme. At a previous meeting, members had agreed in principle to the development of a shared Marketing and Communications Officer role to support all four County Durham Pride in Place Boards. The report detailed the proposed scope and expectations of this role, which would include developing and delivering an overarching Communications and Marketing Strategy, managing the programme's digital presence, creating promotional content, and leading media relations. The aim was to provide a consistent, professional, and coordinated approach to communications across the programme, while allowing individual Boards to communicate local priorities.

Future Salary Charges for Operational Delivery

The meeting was also scheduled to consider future salary charges for operational delivery. The assessment panel had recommended that the Board formally review these arrangements when the current commitment expires in November 2026.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The agenda also included a Chair's Update, a review of correspondence, and a discussion on next steps for the programme. The board was also due to confirm the date and time of its next meeting.